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Monday, April 11, 2011

It Must Bee Spring!

The garden is simply buzzing with bees, flitting from one bloom to another, practically pushing each other out of the way to get to the nectar. If I were my friend Gail at Clay and Limestone I would know which bee was which but as it is I know only the carpenter bees by name. The rest will have to be a learning opportunity for me.

Borage is hugely favored today.

Geranium citrosa serving as a bee magnet.

Carpenter bees as well as several other types are just covering the wisteria, more so than I recall in the past. At times there were close to 100 bees raising a ruckus in the side yard.

Another pollinator finding the wisteria irresistible.

All of the bees here are quite docile. They go about their work (or is it partying?) in the midst of the child care children running and playing and they tolerate me and my camera always. The only time I've been stung was when I put my hand right down on top of one poor doomed honey bee as I pulled the gate closed. I will admit it hurt so badly I could barely say the word 'ice' to my husband when I ran in to get some to slow the swelling. Getting the stinger out within seconds of the sting and using the ice meant little pain after an hour or so but it was sensitive for several days. Even so, it seems a small price to pay for the show they put on each summer!

7 comments:

Leslie, The hum of all those bees on the wisteria must be a fantastic symphony to Spring. What a learning lab your garden is for those sweet children. I've only been stung by a wasp and like you I accidentally put my hand on it. Thank you for the linklove and the celebration of bees! xxoogail

Your bees and other pollinators are lucky duckys to have your wonderful flowers to visit, Leslie! Teaching the young ones to respect and even revere them is a noble endeavor. My hat is off to you, for many, many reasons! :-)Frances

Ah, lovely beautiful bees. I've only when stung when I got too close to a wasp nest which I didn't know existed. It hurt. Also, I once stepped on a bumble in some clover. So, my bad. As they eat, they are very happy and docile. I love them in the garden. They make it sing.~~De3e

Pollinating is in the air! Got bees trying to move in on my property (swarming on the branches of my front yard oak), but lack a nice home to tempt them into! Btw... love your blog to remind what to plan in my designs for Davis properties... very unique little climate, soil, and water! I killed a couple of azaleas in my early design days there!